Drinking Water

Clean drinking water is something we expect to have every day. But let's not take it for granted – a lot of work goes in to keeping water safe for drinking, and there’s always more to be done.

Understanding Drinking Water

Richmond is one of the largest producers of water in central Virginia. Our water treatment plant, built in 1924, is capable of treating up to 132 million gallons of water every day from the James River. At the plant, large and medium-sized particles are removed by settling basins, while smaller particles are removed through filtration. A final treatment process removes bacteria and improves the taste before it’s prepared for public use.

To keep our tap water safe, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires routine tests of drinking water to identify potential contaminants such as bacteria and pesticides. The city of Richmond’s water is continuously tested and always meets or exceeds EPA standards for safe drinking water. For more information, call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Visit our Pollution Solution page to see some of the ways you can help keep our drinking water clean.